Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Beto had contrasting fortunes on international duty for England and Guinea-Bissau respectively
10:36, 10 Oct 2025Updated 10:36, 10 Oct 2025
Everton’s Jordan Pickford during International friendly between England and Wales at Wembley Stadium on October 9, 2025(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel hailed Jordan Pickford after he became an England record-breaker. But the goalkeeper’s Everton team-mate Beto had a game to forget on international duty.
Pickford’s clean sheet in the Three Lions’ 3-0 first-half blitz in the opening 20 minutes of their Wembley friendly against Wales on Thursday night was his eighth shutout in a row on international duty.
That eclipsed the previous best set almost 60 years ago by the legendary Gordon Banks, who managed seven in a row before he was beaten from the penalty spot by tournament Golden Boot winner Eusebio of Portugal in the 1966 World Cup semi-final.
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Connor O’Neill
And England manager Tuchel lauded Pickford’s ability to remain sharp after being largely untested for long stretches by Craig Bellamy’s hapless visitors.
The German said: “It’s not easy to stay focused in a dominant first half like that. Have basically nothing to do.
“And then suddenly, I think in the 42nd minute, there’s situation where it always can be dangerous. And second half, he had a very difficult save to close his legs very fast.
“He’s a fantastic shot stopper. There is no doubt about it.
“Today there was a challenge for him because they pressed us high. And we want to escape the pressing.
“We want to have the chance to escape the pressing, also with short passes, and not only with long shots from him. So, he did very well.
“He kept his composure. He kept calm.
“This is basically what we demand of him. He stayed calm, kept his focus.”
Tuchel also praised Pickford’s ability to adapt to his tactical demands as he added: “It’s like, always a team effort, and I think he’s happy to share this with at least the defenders in front of him.
“But with a defensive approach that we make it the least saves possible from him, but he’s doing good.
“Well done, congratulations. Fantastic achievement.”
Meanwhile, Everton striker Beto endured contrasting fortunes to Pickford on Wednesday as he missed an open goal at the back post while playing for Guinea-Bissau in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ethiopia.
Turning out at Amahoro Stadium in the Rwandan capital city of Kigali, the Blues frontman was presented with a golden opportunity to cancel out Ramkel James’ 27th-minute opener when second-half substitute Tamble Monteiro put a chance on a plate for him with a low right wing cross.
But somehow the 27-year-old, who has netted once in seven Premier League outings for David Moyes’ men this term, allowed the ball to slip through his legs and go out for a goal-kick.